Awe-Sum Hair open at the Village

October 6, 2013

WEIRTON - After working together for years, Bunny Lemal and Jerri Shaffer have teamed up to open a salon of their own, Awe-Sum Hair, at the Village at Colliers Way.

The two have been friends for years, and even operated a shop in Bethany until Lemal, a Weirton resident, had to move away in 2000 to care for an ailing family member.

"We've been friends for over 22 years," she said. "And we've always worked together really, really well."

Article Photos

SALON OPEN — Awe-Sum Hair owners Bunny Lemal, from left, and Jerri Shaffer with stylists Mathia Porco, Cindy Myers and Kayla Wright celebrate the opening of their new salon at the Village at Colliers Way. — Linda Harris

Shaffer, a Wellsburg resident, said their goal is to give customers what they want, be it a special haircut, coloring or perm. They don't work by appointments, so they serve their walk-in clients on a first-come, first-served basis.

"It's all about convenience for our customers," she said. "We still do chemicals and everything, as long as customers come in two hours before we close for the day. We're pretty much full-service, except for nails."

Shaffer said they like the idea of being their own boss again, and being able to do what their customers want done without worrying about corporate policies that didn't always make sense to workers and stifled individuality.

"You can have teal hair and work here," she joked.

Lemal said they were drawn to the plaza. "It's brand new, and this area is going to be booming," she said.

It's also easily accessible from U.S. Route 22 as well.

"The location is perfect, it's right off the exit," she said. "The landlord has worked with us from Day 1 on anything and everything we could possibly need."

She said they have six stations now, "and we'd like to grow." Several staff members from the salon where they'd worked previously have joined them at Awe-Sum Hair.

"There's an office behind us, someday we'd like to be able to knock the wall down and have that space, too."

Working with Lemal and Shaffer are Mathia Porco, Cindy Myers, Kayla Wright and Vicki Mainenti.

The salon is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They're closed Sundays.